After my last volley at the lovers of newfangled things, particularly fencing, my friends Mike and Jason offered to school my sorry ass in the manly art of fencing with a pistol grip. And while they didn’t change my mind about the grip itself, I will admit that Mike is nothing of the flickey fighter I thought he might be due to his love affair with pistol grips. I mean, he frickin’ LOVES them. He buys them dinner. Tells them his dreams. Bleecch.
I tried out the pistol grip myself, but discovered that training in one grip really DOES make a difference: I couldn’t get away from the classical French grip. I found the pistol grip too restrictive in several instances, and if I would make any further point about it, then it would be this: Pistol grips aren’t for beginners. You need a competent, experienced teacher to educate you in their use. I truly believe the French grip gives you the greatest freedom of movement.
Mike let me switch back the a French grip, and we had a nice friendly bout. Which, if you have ever watched the travesty of some of the international matches, you’ll understand how rare that can be. Actually I was pleasantly surprised at the exchange between us, we got quite a few good riffs going without grossly wide motions or horrible form. Mike is cat-quick and can spot an opening from across a crowded discothèque…Which I believe he has done, on occasion. I was often tagged before I could visually track him moving in for the kill. But I remembered a few of my old tricks as well, and after a few touches I was back in the game.
Damn, I have forgotten how much I missed this.
Fencing brings a heightened awareness of your surroundings into a concentrated focus in a combat environment. It’s uses for augmenting knife and stick work are absolutely critical, and those that have fenced know what I’m talking about here. Oh, I don’t mean any special technique, or some secret move…It’s just that the critical elements that make up the inner game of fencing are the foundations often laid for beginning martial arts as well. Footwork, timing, critical distance, speed of thought, the single synapse theory…Believe me, if you are looking for something that will compliment, augment or just enhance your attributes in your martial art, try Fencing.
The start of our little match
I make an attack
Mike Responds and nails it...
2 comments:
Yeah, that was fun. I was really disappointed when we weren't able to make it over on time today and get in some more fencing.
I was actually feeling pretty good today and would have loved to pick up a foil instead of the camera.
Ah well, next time.
Jason
P.S. Great class today Bobbe. :)
Thanks Jason, good work on your part!
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